Points "Last Minute" Deals

[edh72]

We've been to a developer pitch and they showed us some of the last minute deals (<45 days / ~7500 points).

We are now considering purchasing 2 timeshares (NOT from a developer, of course) - a fixed week one at HH, and then a 'good deal' points one that we will probably never visit. We won't get both of these at once, but this seems to be the best strategy for what we want to do (based on all the great info I've been researching here!)

So, a few questions on points... (I'm sure these are all quick answers once you have full access to RCI.com, but we aren't there yet )

1. Are the last minute deals pretty prevalent? I don't expect to get a beach week in July this way - I am really just asking if you can usually find one if you are flexible on location (I think we would mainly use these for driving trips up and down the east coast)

2. Would we generally be able to get a week in Orlando in early Jan with a last minute deal?

3. Are these deal only for weeks? Would we be able to get a long weekend trip this way (3-4 nights)


As always, thanks for all the help!!

-Ed

 

[philsfan]

We've been to a developer pitch and they showed us some of the last minute deals (<45 days / ~7500 points).

We are now considering purchasing 2 timeshares (NOT from a developer, of course) - a fixed week one at HH, and then a 'good deal' points one that we will probably never visit. We won't get both of these at once, but this seems to be the best strategy for what we want to do (based on all the great info I've been researching here!)

So, a few questions on points... (I'm sure these are all quick answers once you have full access to RCI.com, but we aren't there yet )

1. Are the last minute deals pretty prevalent? I don't expect to get a beach week in July this way - I am really just asking if you can usually find one if you are flexible on location (I think we would mainly use these for driving trips up and down the east coast)

2. Would we generally be able to get a week in Orlando in early Jan with a last minute deal?

3. Are these deal only for weeks? Would we be able to get a long weekend trip this way (3-4 nights)


As always, thanks for all the help!!

-Ed

Last night I saw a 3 bdr unit at Waterside by Spinaker in August for 9k. If things stay the same as they are today, I don't think you'll be disappointed if you are flexible on time and location.

I don't think January in Orlando is high demand unless you really are asking about week 52 and then all bets are off. I am no expert in trades there but I would say it won't be a problem since most kids are not off in January.

The cheaper points rate is only for a full week but you can leave whenever you want. For true points resorts where you would need to make a standard vs. a weeks reservation, there is never a discounted rate. It's only when you use points to take something from the weeks pool.

 

[catcher24]

I can tell you that three years ago I used points from a time share I purchased in the Poconos (which I have never visited) to go to Shenandoah Villas at Massanutten for a week in early June for 8500 points. It was great - but did end up with me purchasing a week (resale, of course, for about 1/12th the asking price at the resort) at Massanutten - a four bedroom, four bath lockout, biannual, which I convert to 121,000 points every two years. It's a great deal if you can travel on short notice. I got into the points system for this great option. I hope to use it regularly when my wife retires next year. In searching for places on short notice, it does seem Florida is never a problem.

Hope that helps some.

 

[edh72]

Good info, thanks.

I see some of the Disney resorts and DVC showing up on RCI - do any of those ever have last minute deals like this?

 

[Egret1986]

No DVC last minute has ever shown up when I've looked

Good info, thanks.

I see some of the Disney resorts and DVC showing up on RCI - do any of those ever have last minute deals like this?

But I have seen many Gold Crown resorts in Orlando on last minute.

I have also seen several and snagged some June, July and August East Coast beach weeks on last minute exchanges (Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Outer Banks, Tybee Island, Kiawah Island, Atlantic Beach, Carolina Beach; in 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units). I think if you have the ability to travel last minute and have some flexibility where you want to go, there are enough last minute exchanges out there to keep you going.

 

[Sandy]

But I have seen many Gold Crown resorts in Orlando on last minute.

I have also seen several and snagged some June, July and August East Coast beach weeks on last minute exchanges (Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Outer Banks, Tybee Island, Kiawah Island, Atlantic Beach, Carolina Beach; in 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units). I think if you have the ability to travel last minute and have some flexibility where you want to go, there are enough last minute exchanges out there to keep you going.

REALLY?? That is great news. Do you have to check daily to get these deals, or do you have a specific time to check (at night, midnight, 6 am etc.?)

thanks
sandy

 

[happymum]

Although I have had some great last minute deals in past years, I have found the pickings to be very slim lately.

 

[Egret1986]

Yes, I do check daily, and specifically between 12:30 am ET and 1:00 am ET

REALLY?? That is great news. Do you have to check daily to get these deals, or do you have a specific time to check (at night, midnight, 6 am etc.?)

thanks
sandy

Fortunately, for this specific thing, I am up during those hours. So, it doesn't require a special effort on my part to check each early morning.

Although I see something somewhere almost every night to some degree, it seems that after midnight on Friday nights has the most availabilities.

I definitely think it helps to be able to check nightly without having to change your sleep habits. I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't awake at that time (at least I hope not).

I think others have indicated seeing these last minutes in the 6 am timeframe also. I can't check then because I'm sleeping until 1:00 pm in the afternoon.

 

[catcher24]

Although I have had some great last minute deals in past years, I have found the pickings to be very slim lately.

I have noticed the last few times I've checked that a large majority of these deals do seem to be in the Williamsburg, VA area, and then of course in Florida, which always has some available. But I only check the east coast area; don't know what you might find out west or in the midwest.

 

[Egret1986]

I also check California and Rocky Mountain areas

I have noticed the last few times I've checked that a large majority of these deals do seem to be in the Williamsburg, VA area, and then of course in Florida, which always has some available. But I only check the east coast area; don't know what you might find out west or in the midwest.

I've only see Palm Springs and Palm Desert mostly in California. There is the very occasional San Diego and very rare Coronodo and Lake Tahoe.

I have seen Wyoming, Idaho and Montana near the National Parks several times, as well as Banff. I haven't checked during the summer--no interest--but during the spring, there were last minute in Sedona and Flagstaff.

 

[happymum]

I've only see Palm Springs and Palm Desert mostly in California. There is the very occasional San Diego and very rare Coronodo and Lake Tahoe.

I have seen Wyoming, Idaho and Montana near the National Parks several times, as well as Banff. I haven't checked during the summer--no interest--but during the spring, there were last minute in Sedona and Flagstaff.

Have you seen Banff this summer? The only resort in Western Canada/US region that I have seen is the all-inclusive mandatory resort in Alaska.

 

[Egret1986]

Yes, I see Banff most times when I check

Have you seen Banff this summer? The only resort in Western Canada/US region that I have seen is the all-inclusive mandatory resort in Alaska.

But these are when I check in the early morning hours.

 

[rickandcindy23]

1:00 Eastern Time is when new stuff is loaded.

RCI used to also update weeks at the same time, but it has changed for weeks, and now you can't get much at the last minute while logged into weeks for a week-to-week exchange. Now they do the weeks' updates during varied times of the day and night, so that no one has an advantage over others. I expect this to happen to points at some time in the future.

I guess TUG members are just annoying RCI to no end.

 

[Passepartout]

We have gotten many Last Calls (cash and Points)that were interesting, entertaining and fun. We aren't too choosy about where we go- as long as it's someplace we haven't been before- see my signature below. We don't need Gold quality resorts as long as they are clean and not run down.

I'm recently retired, so we have more time to 'go', depending now on meshing with my working, board presiding, hobbying, DW.

I've suspected that new last calls are loaded late at night, but haven't checked for myself.

For us, the cash last calls and short-lead-time Points vacations are THE reason we keep and enjoy our RCI PITA membership.

Jim Ricks

 

[Egret1986]

I agree; that will probably change in the future for Points.

.... so that no one has an advantage over others. I expect this to happen to points at some time in the future.

I guess TUG members are just annoying RCI to no end.

Yes, I also agree TUGGERS are probably annoying to RCI.

I'll ride these last minute Weeks exchanges with my Points for as long as I can though. And, yes, it will personally effect me if and when they change the time they post the last minute rentals.

 

[happymum]

1:00 Eastern Time is when new stuff is loaded.

That's when I check - unsuccessfully.

 

[Emily]

Do you ever see DVC availability with points? I have a daughter that can see lots of DVC rentals in her points account but has never seen an exchange. Does DVC exchange through points? she is looking for mid Oct so I wouldn't think this would be that difficult.

 

[Rent_Share]

I have a daughter that can see lots of DVC rentals in her points account but has never seen an exchange. .

Hmmmmmmmmm

 

[gorevs9]

Do you ever see DVC availability with points? I have a daughter that can see lots of DVC rentals in her points account but has never seen an exchange. Does DVC exchange through points? she is looking for mid Oct so I wouldn't think this would be that difficult.

I'm not sure if there are any available for OCT, but I did see some in NOV. Try different options. For example, I saw one DVC when I searched by region, but saw a different one for a different date when I seached by State.
As always RCI has no consistency.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Do you ever see DVC availability with points? I have a daughter that can see lots of DVC rentals in her points account but has never seen an exchange. Does DVC exchange through points? she is looking for mid Oct so I wouldn't think this would be that difficult.

That's too late for Disney. You have to look ahead at least four months to see much. Have her look at January and February, where lots of inventory exists. She needs to look at Standard Reservations.

Wait.....where are her points deeded? Are they Orlando points? If so, that could be a block on her account that won't allow her to see Disney.

 

[rickandcindy23]

That's when I check - unsuccessfully.

What are you looking for? Last night, there were 88 Florida resorts for 7,500 points or less. Are you looking at Weeks, or are you looking at Standard Reservations (because the discount is in Weeks).

 

[Egret1986]

I start at 12:30 am and that's when I start seeing things added usually

That's when I check - unsuccessfully.

Most of the time by 1:00 am, they've stopped adding and the good stuff has been snapped up.

You have to be ready with your trigger finger when they start adding. If it's worth having, it's not going to set there but for a moment usually.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Most of the time by 1:00 am, they've stopped adding and the good stuff has been snapped up.

You have to be ready with your trigger finger when they start adding. If it's worth having, it's not going to set there but for a moment usually.

We just got back from Grand Pacific Palisades, a 2 bedroom, that we received for 9,000 points, and I tried to get several of those, searching every night for about two weeks, and I would see it, try to get it, and it would be taken already. This one came up and I grabbed it immediately, without even stopping to think about the date and how that would work for Rick's work schedule. These never last more than a minute, but they are there, and you just have to keep refreshing and searching every 30 seconds or so to find them. You need to be online at about 12:30, searching constantly to get the good stuff.

Hawaii is suddenly much harder to find late at night, but it is summer, so that is probably why.

 

[gorevs9]

Most of the time by 1:00 am, they've stopped adding and the good stuff has been snapped up.

You have to be ready with your trigger finger when they start adding. If it's worth having, it's not going to set there but for a moment usually.

Last month, I was looking to get a particular resort as a last minute exchange. Units were available at full "price" prior to midnight of the 45 day window.

At midnight (EDT) I found units that were listed as available for 7500 pts. When I went through the motions to reserve the unit, I received a message implying the unit was not available. Even after clearing cache and repeating the sequence I would get the same results. Units are LISTED as available, but then not available when I tried to Confirm or Hold.

I would expect that the listings would be updated as the units were being booked, but then again we are talking about RCI.

 

[wayzer]

That's too late for Disney. You have to look ahead at least four months to see much. Have her look at January and February, where lots of inventory exists. She needs to look at Standard Reservations.

Wait.....where are her points deeded? Are they Orlando points? If so, that could be a block on her account that won't allow her to see Disney.

RickandCindy,

I am in the same boat (own my points account in Orlando) although own a timeshare that is not in Orlando that I was going to do a PFD. Can I use those points to book at DVC?

Thanks